Alcott Acre's Home, Room 1

Let's get the introduction out of the way. My name is Stasia and I have been happily married to the recently retired Kerry for 37 years in June. We have 6 children, 4 of whom are my stepchildren and 2 of whom are ours together. We also have 8 grandchildren. We lost our daughter Nichole in 2023.

We are now the parents of 3 furbabies: Mallory and Chalfont, who are littermates, and newly adopted Ilan, who was an outside cat until Kerry let him into the house. Mallory and Chalfont will be 5 years old in March. Ilan is about 8 months old.

I am a Christian, but I am not one of the evangelicals responsible for the current President of the U.S. I tell everyone that I would not have voted for him if he was the only one running!

I love to read it goes without saying and Kerry is very good about all of the books strewn throughout our house. Since Kerry retired in late 2023, we have spent a lot of time over the course of the past couple of years playing board games (my other hobby) and despite that, my reading has continued apace. I am hoping to slow my reading pace down in 2026 as I have a lot of projects around my house that I would like to get done. I am shooting for 240 books this year as opposed to the 350+ I normally read!

I suffer from both insomnia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (known to me familiarly as 'stupid CFS') so to say my sleeping is haphazard may be an understatement, lol. Generally speaking, if I get 4 hours of sleep a night I am happy. Unfortunately when my CFS hits, I get about 14. Ugh.

We traveled quite a bit in 2025 - for us anyway - but 2026 is shaping up to be quite different. Currently we have one family vacation planned and that is it. I still hope to get to the Pacific Northwest at some point, but it does not look like it is going to be this year.

That's about it, I think, so come on in and grab a cuppa!

Excellent Reads from 2025, Part I (in the order in which I read them):

5 Stars
Archaeology of the Bible: The Greatest Discoveries from Genesis to the Roman Era by Jean-Pierre Isbouts
All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot
The Library at Night by Alberto Manguel
The Novels of the Harlem Renaissance: Twelve Black Writers, 1923-1933 by Amritjit Singh
Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story by Martin Luther King, Jr.
The City and Its Uncertain Walls by Haruki Murakami
There Once Was a World by Yaffa Eliach
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
Quiet Girl in a Noisy World: An Introvert's Story by Debbie Tung
The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny
Memorial Days: A Memoir by Geraldine Brooks
Doomsday Book by Connie Willis
The Girl Who Drew Butterflies by Joyce Sidman
Doc by Mary Doria Russell
The Story of a Heart by Dr. Rachel Clarke
Simple Justice by Richard Kluger
How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny
Vanishing Treasures: A Bestiary of Extraordinary Endangered Creatures by Katherine Rundell
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
The Remembered Soldier by Anjet Daanje
The Art of the Jewish Family by Laura Arnold Leibman

Excellent Reads from 2026, Part I
Birth, Sex and Abuse: Women’s Voices Under Nazi Rule by Beverley Chalmers

Excellent Reads from 2025, Part II (in the order in which I read them):

4.5 Stars
Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon
Farewell Espana by Howard M. Sachar
Time's Echo: The Second World War, The Holocaust, and The Music of Remembrance by Jeremy Eichler
Middlemarch by George Eliot
Our Riches by Kaouther Adimi
My Antonia by Willa Cather
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
The Wildes: A Novel in Five Acts by Louis Bayard
Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset
Our Daily War by Andrei Kourkov
Sylvia Beach and the Lost Generation by Noel Riley Fitch
The Lost: A Search for Six of Six Million by Daniel Mendelsohn
A Fire in the Mind: The Life of Joseph Campbell by Stephen Larsen and Robin Larsen
Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Jane Austen's Bookshelf by Rebecca Romney
The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon
All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir
Bookish: How Reading Shapes Our Lives by Lucy Mangan
The Tomb of Dragons by Katherine Addison
How to Read a Book by Monica Wood
Freedom's Daughters by Lynne Olson
The Free by Willy Vlautin
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
Bibliophile: An Illustrated Miscellany by Jane Mount
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
Isola by Allegra Goodman
Bibliophile: Diverse Spines by Jamise Harper and Jane Mount
Beneath a Ruthless Sun by Gilbert King
There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak
How We Learn To Be Brave by Mariann Edgar Budde
Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue
Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan
The History of Sound: Stories by Ben Shattuck
The Love Songs of W. E. B. Du Bois by Honoree Fanonne Jeffers
East West Street by Philippe Sands
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy
Queen Demon by Martha Wells
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
The Master Butcher's Singing Club by Louise Erdrich
Raising Hare: A Memoir by Chloe Dalton
By the Fire We Carry by Rebecca Nagle
Whiskeyjack by Victoria Goddard
Cane by Jean Toomer
Six Days of War by Michael B. Oren
We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson
My Name Is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok
Belzoni Dreams of Egypt by Jon Clinch
Written in Bone: Hidden Stories in What We Leave Behind by Sue Black
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon
Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher
Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O'Nan

Excellent Reads from 2026, Part II
Alone: Reflections on Solitary Living by Daniel Schreiber
Beloved by Toni Morrison
Plan for the Worst by Jodi Taylor
The Most Wonderful Books edited by Michael Dorris and Emilie Buchwald
The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende
Coming Up Short: A Memoir of America by Robert Reich
Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens
Love-in-a-Mist by Victoria Goddard
To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis

Excellent Reads from 2025, Part III (in the order in which I read them):

4.25 Stars
Making It So by Patrick Stewart
Salt Sugar Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us by Michael Moss
Eleanore of Avignon by Elizabeth DeLozier
The Choice: Embrace the Possible by Dr. Edith Eva Eger
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram
The Harlem Renaissance Remembered: Essays Edited with a Memoir by Arna Bontemps
Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa
And the Rest is History by Jodi Taylor
My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell
Till Human Voices Wake Us by Victoria Goddard
In the Enemy's House by Howard Blum
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard
The Age of Revolution, 1789-1848 by E. J. Hobsbawm
The Wildcat Behind Glass by Alki Zei
Mountain Path by Harriette Simpson Arnow
Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green
The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten
Emily, Alone by Stewart O'Nan
The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold
Papillon by Henri Charriere
A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers
Among the Righteous by Robert Satloff
Chenneville by Paulette Jiles
The Riddle of the Labyrinth by Margalit Fox
We Remember with Reverence and Love by Hasia R. Diner
Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake
War & Turpentine by Stefan Hertmans
The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse by Louise Erdrich
Framed in Death by J. D. Robb
Remember Me to Harlem edited by Emily Bernard
The World That We Knew by Alice Hoffman
Bee Sting Cake by Victoria Goddard
The Return: Fathers, Sons and the Land In Between by Hisham Matar
Hope for the Best by Jodi Taylor
One Goal: A Coach, a Team, and the Game That Brought a Divided Town Together by Amy Bass
Epitaph by Mary Doria Russell
Bookworm by Lucy Mangan
Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers
Chasing the King of Hearts by Hanna Krall

Excellent Reads from 2026, Part III
Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor
Snake-Eater by T. Kingfisher

January TIOLI Challenges:

Challenge #1: Read a book with a single title word which gives you pleasure
Love-in-a-Mist by Victoria Goddard - Completed January 25, 2026
The Most Wonderful Books edited by Michael Dorris and Emilie Buchwald - Completed January 8, 2026
Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens - Completed January 21, 2026

Challenge #2: Read a book thats on at least 10 LT Lists
The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende - Completed January 11, 2026
One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad - Completed January 29, 2026

Challenge #3: Read a book with a food word in the title
Snake-Eater by T Kingfisher - Completed January 9, 2026

Challenge #4: Read a book by an author featured in the 2014 American Authors Challenge
Beloved by Toni Morrison - Completed January 6, 2026

Challenge 5: Read a book that begins with a vowel
Alone by Daniel Schreiber - Completed January 2, 2026
Anderby Wold by Winifred Holtby - Completed January 27, 2026

Challenge #6: Read a book whose title makes you laugh, startles you or prompts you to say "WTAF?"
To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis - Completed January 28, 2026

Challenge #7: Read a book for International Holocaust Day (January 27): Read a book about a genocide or in which a genocide happens (the Holocaust, the Armenian genocide, the Rwandan genocide, the Cambodian genocide, etc)
First They Killed My Father by Loung Ung - Completed January 4, 2026

Challenge #8: Multiple monosyllables: Read a book with multiple words in the title, all of one syllable
The Place of Tides by James Rebanks - Completed January 1, 2026
Plan for the Worst by Jodi Taylor - Completed January 8, 2026

Challenge #9: Read a book that is on a best of or notable books of 2025 list
Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor - Completed January 9, 2026

Challenge #10: Read a book with a connection to my mother, Dorothy
The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman - Completed January 3, 2026

Challenge #11: Read a book connected to your reading intentions for 2026
Coming Up Short by Robert Reich - Completed January 15, 2026
The Information by James Gleick - Completed January 19, 2026
The Tie that Binds by Kent Haruf - Completed January 22, 2026
Vendetta in Death by J. D. Robb - Completed January 1, 2026

Challenge #12 - Read a Book Whose Page Number is Divisible by 26 (26, 52, 78, 104, 130, 156, 182, 208, 234, 260, 286, 312, 338, 364, 390, 416, 442, 468, 494, 520, 546, 572, 598, 624, 650, 676, 702, 728, 754, 780. . .)
Birth, Sex, and Abuse: Women’s Voices Under Nazi Rule by Beverley Chalmers - Completed January 25, 2026
The City & the City by China Mieville - Completed January 31, 2026

Challenge #13: Read a book where a season is mentioned in the title
Winter Counts by David Heska Wanbli Weiden - Completed January 18, 2026

Challenge #14: Read a book that has the word BEFORE or AFTER in the title
After You’d Gone by Maggie O’Farrell - Completed January 21, 2026

Challenge #15: Read a book by a Swiss author or most of the action taking place in Switzerland
Night Train to Lisbon by Pascal Mercier - Completed January 17, 2026

Challenge #16 Read a book by an author who died in 2025
The Magdalen Martyrs by Ken Bruen - Completed January 30, 2026

Challenge #17: Read a book with a title referencing memory or the past
Mysteries of the Middle Ages by Thomas Cahill - Completed January 31, 2026
The Wizards of Once by Cressida Cowell - Completed January 26, 2026

Shared reads:

Place of Tides by James Rebanks - Completed January 1, 2026
Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens - Completed January 2, 2026
Love in a Mist by Victoria Goddard - Completed January 25, 2026
Plum Duff by Victoria Goddard - Shared read with Mary and Nina
We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker - Shared read with Mark et al in April?
Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin - Shared read with Mary in November?

Black Studies Reading
Must read for 2026: Stamped From the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi
1. Beloved by Toni Morrison

Jewish Studies Reading
Must read for 2026: Cultures of the Jews edited by David Biale
1. Birth, Sex and Abuse: Women’s Voices Under Nazi Rule by Beverley Chalmers

The British Authors Challenge - This is one that I dip into and out of as the case may be
January - The Wizards of Once by Cressida Cowell - Completed January 26, 2026

Kent Haruf Challenge:
The Tie That Binds - Completed January 22, 2026
Where You Once Belonged
Plainsong
Eventide
Benediction
Our Souls at Night
Granta 109 essay

In Memory of Caroline:
Alone: Reflections on Solitary Living by Daniel Schreiber - Completed January 2, 2026

The “Read More Sci-Fi” Challenge - using the Esquire list found here (https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/books/g39358054/best-sci-fi-books/) - which has now been expanded - and the book Science Fiction, The 101 Best Novels, 1985-2010 by Damien Broderick and Paul di Filippo as guides. Also adding in Hugo & Nebula Award winners and nominees.
1. The City & the City by China Mieville - Completed January 31, 2026 (#34 on the Esquire list)

Monthly Nonfiction Challenges - I try to read at least 100 nonfiction books a year and this challenge is instrumental in helping me achieve that goal. In 2025, I was able to read 124 nonfiction books.
January The Information: A History, A Theory, A Flood by James Gleick - Completed January 19, 2026
January Birth, Sex and Abuse: Women’s Voices Under Nazi Rule by Beverley Chalmers - Completed January 25, 2026

Series Reading - I will post these as I read them:

The In Death series by J.D. Robb
Vendetta in Death - Completed January 1, 2026
Golden in Death -

The St. Mary’s books by Jodi Taylor
Plan for the Worst - Completed January 8, 2026
Another Time, Another Place -

The Decker/Lazarus series by Faye Kellerman
Serpent's Tooth -

The Three Pines series by Louise Penny
The Long Way Home -

The Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear
A Dangerous Place -

The Shetland Series by Ann Cleeves
Cold Earth -

The Wayfarers Series by Becky Chambers
The Galaxy, and the Ground Within -

The Rivers of London Series by Ben Aaronovitch
Whispers Under Ground -

The Brighton Mystery Series by Elly Griffiths
Now You See Them -

Trader's Tales From The Golden Age of The Solar Clipper Series by Nathan Lowell
Full Share -

Happy New Thread and Happy New Year, Stasia!

>10 alcottacre: Thanks, Deborah!

The “Lists” Challenges: Reading from the lists, nonfiction and fiction, that are growing rapidly at my local library

Nonfiction:

Fiction:

Building Bridges Challenge: Using American Ethnic Writers, Volumes 1 & 2 as well as Bibliophile: Diverse Spines as Guides

1. Beloved by Toni Morrison - Completed January 6, 2026

Roads Less Traveled Challenge:

January - Chile:
House of Spirits by Isabel Allende - Completed January 11, 2026

New Year greetings from Kuala Lumpur. My project is at least physically completed and an addition to the city scape.

Look forward to keeping up with you in 2026, Juana

>16 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul! And thanks for hosting another group challenge! I am very much looking forward to it.

>17 alcottacre: More than welcome, Stasia.

Finished in the wee hours:

1 - Vendetta in Death by J. D. Robb - Audiobook; My romp through the In Death series continues with book 49 in which Dallas is tracking down a murderer who seems to hate men, especially the raping, cheating, wife beating variety. Calling herself Lady Justice she becomes judge, jury, and executioner. Now all Dallas and Peabody has to do is track her down before she kills another man; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

Happy New Year to you and yours, Stasia!

Morning, Stasia, how's the weather?

*smooch*

Happy New Year, Stasia. What a great list of favorites from last year! I am taking notes. I hope 2026 is a great year for you.

Hi, Stasia, Happy New Year! You are off to a running start, of course. I hope to keep up.

Happy new year, Stasia!

>20 Carmenere: Thank you, Lynda! Same to you and Will.

>21 richardderus: Very pleasant at the moment, RD. How about you? ((Hugs)) and **smooches** right back at you

>22 BLBera: Thank you, Beth! I hope 2026 is a great year for you as well.

>23 ffortsa: Hey, Judy. I am pretty sure you will keep up as I am not going to be reading a book every day :)

Well, I typed up a whole long post about today and lost it. I refuse to repeat myself, lol.

Happy New Year, everyone!

Happy New Year and hope you have very good reads!

>25 alcottacre: Freezyfrosty cold, windy, and so not much fun. *sigh*

Happy New Year and best wishes for 2026 to you and your family Stasia!

Happy new thread.

Happy new thread and new year, Stasia!

Happy New Year, Stasia!

I’m reading House of the Spirits as well.. I thought I would be the only one who hadn’t read it yet!

Welcome back, Stasia!

Happy New Year, Stasia. Lets have another joy-filled year, sharing our love of books. We had a grand time bringing in the New Year with Jack & Co. Back home now and looking forward to a lazy afternoon with the books.

Hello Stasia. All the best to you and family for "26. I love all your "best of" lists, thanks for sharing.

Hello Stasia. Happy New Year and happy first thread of 2026.

I wish you another fabulous year of reading and look forward to seeing what hits top of stack for you this year.

>29 humouress: Thanks, Nina! The same to you and yours!

>30 jessibud2: Thanks, Shelley!

>31 EllaTim: Thanks, Ella! The House of Spirits will be a re-read for me, I hate to break it to you. . .

>32 drneutron: Thanks, Jim. You really did not think I would leave, did you? You cannot get rid of me that easily, lol.

>33 msf59: A lazy afternoon with the books sounds great, Mark. Glad to hear you had a good time with the family!

>34 mdoris: Thanks, Mary. Happy New Year!

>35 karenmarie: Thanks, Karen. I hope you have a fabulous year of reading as well!

Off to fix New Year's dinner. . .be back later, I am sure. I would like to spend a lazy evening with The Place of Tides and hope to finish it tonight.

Happy New Year, Stasia! Looking forward to following your reads and continuing our joint reads in 2026.

As usual, I can just pop over here if I ever need a book idea!! Happy reading!

>38 bell7: Thanks, Mary!

>39 Berly: I hope I give you lots of ideas in 2026, Kim! Lol

Happy New Thread!

>3 alcottacre: Seeing Thornhedge on your list tells me that I got the BB from your 2025 thread. It was my first finished read for 2026 and I really enjoyed it.
HAppy New Year.

>41 SilverWolf28: Thanks, Silver!

>42 avatiakh: I am glad you liked it, Kerry! Nice way to start off your 2026 reads!

Finished tonight:

2 - The Place of Tides by James Rebanks - Nonfiction; The only other Rebanks book that I have read is his Pastoral Song which was recommended to me by Anita (FAMeulstee) and I did not read until after her passing. I loved that book so this one, recommended to me by Mary (mdoris), had a lot to live up to. It did not quite hit the 4.5 star mark that I gave the previous book, but I still found it to be a worthwhile read and am not at all sorry to have read it. Nature takes its time and man has done much to destroy nature over time and the care takers, like Anna, who care for its creatures have to be patient. Unfortunately, Rebanks' friend Anna is getting up there in age and can no longer do her job, taking care of the eider ducks in their traditional breeding grounds - grounds that have been decimated by mankind through hunting, pollution, etc. The islands were Anna and her family's home for generations but things have changed through the years unfortunately. The book tells the story of how Rebanks went to stay with Anna and learn the history not only of the eider ducks and their history, but the history of how entwined Anna's family history is with theirs; Recommended (4 stars) Library Book

Thank you, Paul, for sharing this read with me!

"Sometimes Anna would get lost in a story, forgetting about the here and now. It took a while, but slowly the threads made something bigger. We started with a homesick little boy and ended up in an epic tale about how the archipelago, and the whole world, was transformed."

"For much of her life, Anna had been deeply ordinary. She had mostly conformed to what the world wanted, and built one kind of life - a modern, respectable one - but had never completely let go of the other. It was only through extreme willfulness that she had found her way back at all."

I would like to have met Anna and learned from her!

>44 alcottacre: Very much my own impression of the book - good and worthwhile but not quite up there with his earlier work

>45 PaulCranswick: Yeah, it would have taken something to top Pastoral Song for me, but I am glad that I read it nonetheless. We are on the same page there.

Hi Stasia. I really liked The Place of Tides and now revisiitng scenes from it often in my memory as he paints such a very good sense of place. I really liked his other books too.

>Stasia, I finished Eventide today. What a very special book dealing with some rather difficult situations.

Happy New Thread, Stasia!

Two books read so soon, Stasia! Amazing.

>47 mdoris: Thanks for the recommendation of the book, Mary. I am glad to hear you enjoyed his other books. Are there any particular that you recommend?

>48 Whisper1: I am very much looking forward to reading through Haruf this year, Linda. I am glad to hear that you enjoyed Eventide!

>49 quondame: Thank you, Susan!

>50 vancouverdeb: One of them was an audiobook started several days ago so not really amazing, Deborah.

More college football today, groceries arriving, and that is about it. I really hope today's games are better than yesterday's, except last night's game which was at least a good one - and too bad that I fell asleep before it was over.

Kerry and I are going to be playing our first game of 2026 today. I am not sure what it is that we are playing since Kerry is choosing, lol.

I am listening to my old friend The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax. I am continuing with First They Killed My Father and Alone: Reflections on Solitary Living, which was recommended to me by Caroline. I am hoping to start Beloved today along with The Most Wonderful Books and The Information, which is going to take me a while to get through, I think.

I hope everyone has a fantastic Friday!

Greetings, Stasia, and a joyous new year!

I hope thefirst board game of the year is a success!

>53 Dejah_Thoris: Thanks, Dejah! I hope you have a terrific 2026 too!

Happy Friday, Stasia. Little Dorrit just came up as a Kindle Deal and you can add the audio for a buck, so I now have that Dickens title in the vault for future use.

Winter Counts has been very good. Is this one on your TBR?

>55 msf59: Oo, good to know about Little Dorrit. I will have to check into that deal.

Winter Counts is in the BlackHole, yes. I just need clones. . .

Stolen from Carrie's thread:

Describe yourself: Pilgrim at Tinker Creek

Describe how you feel: Quiet Girl in a Noisy World

Describe where you currently live: Crow Lake

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: The Underground Library

Your favorite form of transportation is: The Dark Road

Your favorite food is: Stargazy Pie

Your favorite time of day is: Night and Day

Your best friend is: Sister Mine

You and your friends are: Children of Time

What’s the weather like: Hello Summer, Goodbye

You fear: Six Days of War

What is the best advice you have to give: Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead

Thought for the day: Wish You Were Here

What is life for you: The Joy of Reading

How you would like to die: Among the Righteous

Your soul’s present condition: In the Realms of Gold

What was 2025 like for you: Surprised by Joy

What do you want from 2026? All the Lives We Never Lived

I wish you a happy, healthy year, Stasia!

>58 mstrust: Thank you, Jennifer! The very same to you!

Happy New Year! I love your meme answers, especially "What is life for you"!

>60 foggidawn: Thanks, foggi. Happy New Year to you too!

Happy new year and new thread, Stasia!

>62 Kristelh: Thanks, Kristel!

Happy New Year! >57 alcottacre: I love your meme answers!

Finished this evening:

3 - Alone: Reflections on Solitary Living by Daniel Schreiber - Nonfiction; I will be honest, had Caroline not recommended this book, I would probably have never read it despite the fact that I bought it, which makes no sense whatsoever, but there you go. I was sure that the book would really have no relevance to me - I am not alone, I have a beloved spouse, mother, children, grandchildren, friends. I could not have been more wrong. Despite friends and family, I am one of those people that really needs 'alone' time and so apparently does Schreiber. A lot of what he says in the book makes sense to me on a level that I had not anticipated: 'Today, my everyday life is generally determined by a fundamental sense of not having enough time alone to myself, having too little time for the many things I want to do, too little time for the books I want to read, the exhibitions I want to see, the concerts and operas I want to go to, the films and series I want to watch. Too little time for the recipes I want to try out, the walks I want to take, the books I want to write.' I can relate to so much of that!

Schreiber writes about the impact that the pandemic had not only on himself but people worldwide. He writes about how, as a gay man, aloneness is sometimes a very real issue. He quotes writers, psychologists, sociologists and their takes on being alone, so the book is part memoir, part psychological study (although not dry in any way). Caroline's review of the book is here: https://www.librarything.com/work/27125316/reviews/253604421, so do not take my word for it as to how good it is; Highly Recommended (4.5 stars) Mine

"None of us can escape loneliness. It is an unavoidable, existential experience. Perhaps also a necessary one."

I thought I had visited this year but I missed the thread. Have you starred so it wont happen again.

Happy reading in 2026! looks like you are off to a racing start.

>66 figsfromthistle: Happy New Year, Anita, and Happy reading to you too!

Happy New Year, Stasia! LOL, you're the only person I know whose goal it is to read less. But I get that home projects need doing - they have a way of piling up.

>68 AMQS: Kerry and I are still hoping to move to east Texas so the home projects really need doing, Anne. Thanks!

Morning, Stasia. Happy Saturday. I strained my left calf muscle about a week ago, so I have been laying low a bit until this issue is cleared up. Hey, more book time, right? Enjoy your weekend.

Not a lot going on here today. I did not sleep well again last night (2 hours and 14 whole minutes!) - I know you are all surprised by that, so naps are probably going to be happening today, lol.

Kerry and I did not get a game played yesterday, but we definitely will be playing Vantage today. Possibly something else as well, we shall see.

I will be finishing up my current audiobook today and starting another. I am continuing on with First They Killed My Father. I started three other books yesterday, The Most Wonderful Books, Beloved, and The Information and hope to make some headway in those today.

I hope everyone has a super Saturday!

Finished today:

4 - The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman - Audiobook; Oh, did this read bring back memories!: my mother first introduced me to the Mrs. Pollifax series years ago and I turned around and used the books for geography lessons when I was homeschooling the girls. The audiobooks in the series also benefit from the narration of Barbara Rosenblat, my all-time favorite narrator, who I have been listening to for about 30 years now. Mrs. Pollifax, a woman of a certain age, mother of 2 and grandmother, needs something to do other than her garden club and volunteer work, so she decides to be a spy and heads to the CIA to volunteer. (I want to be Mrs. Pollifax when I grow up, but I would be a terrible spy!) As things turn out, the boss Carstairs thinks Mrs. Pollifax would be perfect for a courier mission he has in mind so she is off to Mexico. Of course, while she is there things go very, very wrong; Guardedly Recommended (4 stars for the audiobook version) Mine

Happy New Year, Stasia! I envy you your high boos-tead number. I used to average in the mid-200s for the year; my stroke slowed my willing but less able brain down, and I barely climbed over the 100 book mark in ‘24. But maybe there’s a lesson there: I enjoyed the heck out of my reading last year and that, of course, is what matters. I do miss devouring so many treats though, I must say.

Your mom got you started on Mrs. Pollifax - I love it. My parents were both big mystery readers, and got me started on Agatha Christie and John Dickson Carr, after seeing the pleasure I took in resding The Hardy Boys.

>73 jnwelch: My mother got me started on Dame Christie as well, Joe, and I currently have my mother's collection of Christie books. When she moved to Longview, she did not have a place to house them so I have been the caretaker for something like 18 years now :)

Ah, The Hardy Boys. I read every Hardy Boy book I could from my school's library back when I was 12.

I hope you enjoy the heck out of your reading this year too!

Happy new year, Stasia! Looks like you're off to a flying start already :)

Happy 2026, Stasia! I enjoyed going through your meme answers.

>72 alcottacre: Hmmm the library where I work has this, so I think I'm going to attempt a shared TIOLI read with you. I probably won't get to it 'til towards the end of the month though.

>65 alcottacre: That one does really look good. By the way, I loved your meme answers. It's always so much fun to see what people come up with.

>74 alcottacre:, >73 jnwelch: I blew threw a dozen or so Hardy Boys mysteries in 1969, grumbled a bit after the last couple because they were so simple...Mama took me to the library for my very own card about a week later, and showed me the mystery section, the SF section, and said, "show me what you want to check out" the first few times. After a couple times listening to me burble on, she said I could do it myself after that.

She got some very important things right. Reading was one.

Sunday orisons, Stasia!

>72 alcottacre: I just finished listening to Barbara Rosenblat reading Helene's letters in 84, Charing Cross Road. She has Hanff down perfectly!

>75 curioussquared: Happy New Year to you too, Natalie!

>76 Copperskye: Thanks, Joanne. Happy New Year!

>77 bell7: The book is less than 200 pages long, Mary. It is one to just go with the flow and have fun with!

>78 thornton37814: I know the memes are not to be taken seriously but I do try and come up with some fun answers. Thanks, Lori.

>79 richardderus: Thank heavens for reading, right? It has rescued so many of us.

>80 kac522: I became a Barbara Rosenblat fan a long time ago - 30+ years at this point - when I first listened to her narrate Crocodile on the Sandbank, Kathy, and tried to figure out who else was narrating, only to find out it was just her doing all those voices. I have been a fan ever since.

Happy New Year, Stasia!

>7 alcottacre: Stamped from the Beginning is excellent. I'm still working my way through it. It was a book club read last year, but we decided to split up the book into sections because the book is so long, and different folks read different sections and reported to the group on their section. I read my section and intended to continue and finish the book, but I never did find time to horn it in around all my other reads. I finally picked it up again in December, but with everything going on that month, I still haven't finished it. Part of the problem is that the way it is put together makes it easier than most books to set down and return to later. But it is so well written! And although the subject matter isn't easy, his writing is interesting and easy to read. It definitely is a must read. And for me, a must finish.

Oh, and my copy has a "Reading Group Guide" at the back of the book that includes Further Reading suggestions. That's going to give me more books to read.

I am already far behind here!! LOL. I stole your themes and my favorites of your answers are:

What is the best advice you have to give: Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead

Thought for the day: Wish You Were Here

What is life for you: The Joy of Reading

: )

My mum and I shared our enjoyment of the Mrs. Pollifax series too, Stasia, but the Christie I found all on my own.

A potential move, that will be a change (and a lot of work!)

>82 atozgrl: Thanks for your input on Stamped from the Beginning, Irene. I am planning on starting it in February. Also good to know about the Further Reading suggestions, which I will undoubtedly use. I have a couple of books that I read last year sitting by my bed from which I am consulting reading lists and bibliographies.

>83 Berly: Thanks, Kim! Happy to see you here again. I am already far behind everywhere and that is highly unlikely to change. I just cannot keep up as I once did :(

>84 Familyhistorian: Yeah, we have been working toward a move since Kerry retired. Obviously that has not happened yet because our house, which is almost 100 years old, really needs some work. Hopefully soon though.

Happy to know that you enjoyed Mrs. Pollifax with you mother too!

It is my weekly 'day off' technology - although we have a family meet up in 36 minutes which will be aided by technology, lol.

I hope you all have a lovely Sunday!

I've been a fan of Barbara Rosenblat also. She was fabulous reading Up the Down Staircase.

Happy Sunday!

>87 AMQS: Yay for another Rosenblat fan! I have never read Up the Down Staircase I do not think, so I will have to give that one a try!

Finished tonight:

5 - First They Killed My Father by Loung Ung - Nonfiction; Ung was 5 years old when the Khmer Rouge took over Cambodia and lost her middle class family existence. Her father had been a police officer and now had to pretend to be a farmer as their family escaped from Phnom Penh. For the next 4 years or so, she led a harrowing existence as family members die and others are separated. Finally reunited with her remaining family, she and her oldest brother escape to America in hopes of bringing the rest of the family here as well. There are some descriptive passages describing the horrors that Ung went through as a child and I really cannot imagine how she could not only live through that but turn out to be anywhere near a normal adult; Recommended (4 stars) Library Book

>65 alcottacre: This sounds fascinating - just earlier today I was having a conversation with my son about how in hindsight I have a strange nostalgia for 2020, and that during the pandemic I finally found myself with enough time to myself to read and do other things. I feel strange thinking this way sometimes, why would I long for a time that was so awful for so many people, and it makes me wonder if my desire for alone-ness is misplaced. I may well wind up reading this one this year, thank you for the interesting write-up!

>90 DarthFisticuffs: I hope you enjoy the book if and when you get to it! Thanks for visiting my thread!

Well, I have absolutely no idea what I am going to get done today as I got no sleep at all last night. I am trying a new sleeping medication and I have taken it 4 days straight - and it is not helping in the least bit. *sigh* Normal chores still have to be done though. . .

Kerry and I are going to try a new-to-us interation of Ticket to Ride that we have not yet played, Iberia and Korea. TtR is one of Kerry's all-time favorite games, so I hope he really likes this one too.

I am still listening to Plan for the Worst. I am continuing on reading with Beloved, The Most Wonderful Books, and The Information. I will likely try to start on Death of the Author today too, if I can stay awake long enough.

I hope you all have a marvelous Monday!

Happy Monday, Stasia. I think we cross-posted the other day. Sorry to hear about your sleepless night and the ineffective medicine. Can you nap?

My plan was to start Our Mutual Friend later this week but I dipped into it a couple of days ago. I was expecting a book to come in on Friday but it didn't show up. I hope that is okay. I think I am on chapter 5. When the book comes in (it is relatively short) I may knock it out and then return to the Dickens. The book in question is When Cranes Fly South- a book Joe was raving about.

This Dickens feels a bit different- more dense and complicated but I am starting to get in the rhythm of it.

>89 alcottacre: That is a devastating read, Stasia. I think you need to follow up with something more cheerful.

>72 alcottacre: Happy New Year, Stasia!!

I’m about halfway through that first Mrs Pollifax book and em enjoying it. I’ll probably continue with the series, I think.

I've been so scattered lately that I haven't made it to your thread even once. Not an excuse...just the fact, ma'am. I'm sorry to hear that you aren't sleeping and the sleep med isn't working. Were you given an indication of how long it might take to work???

I could never read either Bobbsey Twins or Hardy Boys. I read all the Nancy Drews instead and Dana Girls. Mama had a couple of those from the late 20s-early 30s when she read them. I didn't think the modern updates were nearly as good. I moved myself into Christie as ND was beginning to pall. She was my first introduction to British English, and I was vastly puzzled and fascinated by the language as well as her plots.

You and Kerry have a good day! I am about to pack your gift and send it on its way!!!!!

Ah, Mrs. Pollifax! That brings back good memories for me, as well.

>93 msf59: I did nap for about 90 minutes, Mark, thanks. I had not planned on starting the Dickens until my current audiobook is done in a few days, so I will be running behind you - unless your book comes in and you get sidetracked.

>94 BLBera: Well, Beloved is not exactly cheerful. Frankly, nothing I am reading right now is exactly cheerful and the 2 library books on deck are not either. I will have to see what I can do, Beth.

>95 lindapanzo: I am considering continuing with the series too, Linda, because it has been such a long while since I read them!

>96 LizzieD: I was the opposite, Peggy. I read a couple of Nancy Drew and was done with her but I read all of the Hardy Boys. I never read the Bobbsey Twins at all until I was homeschooling the kids and we read a couple together then.

Thank you so much!

>97 foggidawn: I am glad to hear that so many of us have fond memories of Mrs. Pollifax, Misty!

>96 LizzieD: I've read so many mysteries. Closing in on 2,000. But I've never read a Mrs Pollifax mystery. Early on, I read a lot of Golden Age mysteries. Then I read a lot of contemporary mysteries. A 1966 mystery or whatever this is was probably in between. Makes me wonder what else I missed from the 1960's and 1970's.

I am currently re-reading The Most Wonderful Books and there are a ton of terrific quotes in the book, so I am going to share them every now and again. Up for today from Marion Dane Bauer:

"I read in order to live, more deeply, more fully, and with a more certain alliance with this human world."

Love your Meme answers (I was tempted to use Crow Lake too) and the thought of Stargazy Pie makes me think of the beautiful Cornish seaside villages including Mousehole.

>101 PaulCranswick: Honestly, I would never eat Stargazy Pie, Paul, since I do not eat meat or fish, lol. Thanks for loving the meme answers! I just think that they are fun to play around with.

>102 alcottacre: I haven't eaten it either, Stasia, but I would. I will give the recipe to Hani.

>103 PaulCranswick: Well, I hope you enjoy it if and when you try it!

Wishing you a good Tuesday, Stasia, and some good sleep.

Stasia, I'm saddened by your sleep patterns which you cannot control. I understand your frustration. Hang in there. I'm sorry the new medication doesn't work...yet. Perhaps it will kick in soon?

>105 vancouverdeb: Well, I wish the sleep had happened, Deborah, but it is meet up day with the girls, so that is very good.

>106 Whisper1: I have taken it every day since last Friday to no avail, Linda. This is the third different medication I have tried and nothing is helping. My frustration knows no bounds!

Today is my meet up day with Beth and Catey and I will be doing it on no sleep. I did manage, with my naps yesterday, to get about 4 hours of sleep. I got none again last night and really do not want to nap today because of the meet up. We will see if I can last until after the meet up to catch a few Zs.

Kerry and I are playing Lorenzo il Magnifico in a few minutes. This was a game we learned on the cruise we took after Kerry's retirement, so it holds a special place in our hearts.

I am still listening to Plan for the Worst. I am continuing on reading with Beloved, The Most Wonderful Books, and The Information. I did start on Death of the Author last night and made it 100 pages in - I am really liking it!

I hope everyone has a terrific Tuesday!

>108 alcottacre: Terrific Tuesday on its way here, I hope. Lots of things to get done which should be very satisfying.

I must have missed something on your thread recently. What is prompting your move to East Texas?

I'm sorry about the bad night again, Stasia. I have to think that being horizontal while wakeful is helpful, but I can see how you would find that hard to tolerate.

Amazon says that your last Christmas book is out for delivery today. I hope they're right. The other two are on their slow, media mail route.

Enjoy your gaming and Kerry and the daughters!

(I would never eat stargazy pie on general principles. I don't love finny fish, and the whole thing is deeply disturbing!!!!)

Oh Stasia I am so sorry for your sleep woes. I have been having trouble lately too, but that's a temporary problem for me (I never sleep well when a school break is ending and we continue to have apocalyptic winds and red-flag fire danger weather). I have found that when I have been prescribed pain medication to help get sleep when in pain it never works and just makes me feel not myself. I hope you can get some relief soon!

Hi Stasia my dear, i have starred you again dear lady and hope to be more visible on your thread in 2026.

>109 ffortsa: The potential move to East Texas is not a recent development, Judy. We have been thinking of moving since Kerry's retirement. My mother, sister, and our daughters Catey and Felisha all live in East Texas. I hope you got everything done that needed doing!

>110 LizzieD: Hours of laying in bed and not sleeping are not only hard, but extremely difficult to tolerate. I actually stayed up for a couple of hours after taking the medicine - I wasn't sleeping anyway - and headed to bed then, but all I did was lay there and not sleep. Frustrating beyond belief!

Nothing yet from Amazon, but thank you in advance! I had a great day of gaming with the family.

>111 AMQS: Thanks, Anne. I have never been a good sleeper - every time I mention my lack of sleep to my mother, she reminds me of that - but within the past several months it has gotten to the ridiculous point. There are weeks when I am getting 1-2 hours of sleep pretty much every night. I hope your own sleep problems go away soon!

>112 johnsimpson: Thank you, John! It is always a delight to see you here.

Finished tonight:

6 - Beloved by Toni Morrison - I think that you know from the outset when you see the dedication of the book "Sixty Million and more" (in commemoration of the slaves who died in the middle passage from Africa to America and the Caribbean islands) that this is going to be a difficult read. Not only is the read difficult because of the subject matter, but it is also challenging to the reader - or at least I found it so. We meet Sethe and learn her history as a slave, then a fugitive, and free woman - or is she truly free? Her oldest daughter, Beloved - the only thing that Sethe could put on her headstone - was murdered by her mother so that she did not have to go back into slavery after her mother was captured by slave catchers. Beloved quite literally comes back to haunt her mother and younger sister. . .This book won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction back in 1988 and it is not hard to see why; Highly Recommended (4.5 stars) Library Book

Thanks to Laura for putting this book on my radar several (10?) years ago. I finally got it read!

>108 alcottacre: I may join you and Joyce in reading Death of the Author, but I may not get access in time. We'll see.

And I am so sorry about your sleeping issues, Stasia. I've had sleeping issues on and off this last year, but I've got a prescription that works when I break down and take it. I hope you find one that works.

>115 Dejah_Thoris: I've put Death of the Author on hold, and checked it out, more than once - the wait's currently 2 weeks, so maybe this month.

>114 alcottacre: I might try to fit this one in too, Stasia to fit the TIOLI challenge.

Hope you get your sleep patterns sorted. I am having a similar problem myself. Sleeping relatively early and waking up in what is the middle of the night and feeling sluggish in consequence.

A move closer to more of the family sounds wise.

>115 Dejah_Thoris: I am about halfway through The Death of the Author, Dejah, and enjoying it. I have read several of Okorafor's books and liked them all.

As far as sleeping issues go, Peggy tells me I may have to break down and go to the doctor since the OTC meds I am trying are not working. My sleeping is going to have to get seriously worse before that happens. I hate going to the doctor.

>116 quondame: I hope you can get to it, Susan!

>117 PaulCranswick: I would be curious to see your take on Beloved, Paul.

Sleep issues seem to be causing problems for everyone these days!

Moving is something that I really do not want to do - I love my house - but being closer to my mother would be a wonderful thing. We are just taking it as it comes and hoping to get several things done to the house this year in order to make it easier to sell.

Hello Stasia, I am greatly hoping that your sleep concerns will be sorted out very soon. You must have lots on your mind too including a big move to East Texas. So much to think about! i guess that is one of the reasons we love books......a way to escape!

>119 mdoris: Oh yeah, I routinely use books for escapism - I guess the same way that people use movies.

My sleep concerns are nothing new. They are a lifelong problem.

It has been nothing but an interesting day here. I was tired last night since I had no sleep the two nights in a row before. I went to bed at 9:30pm, was up at 10:30 and for the next 4 hours, slept again for an hour, was up again for 90 minutes, went to sleep and finally got up for good at 11:30 this morning. So to recap - I was in bed for 14 hours of which, I slept less than 8.

Kerry and I played a new to us game today, A Wild Vantage, and both of us enjoyed it. I am hoping to get it played on Friday when we have our monthly gaming marathon :)

I am still listening to Plan for the Worst. I am still reading The Death of the Author, The Most Wonderful Books, and The Information. I am hoping to start Night Train to Lisbon and possibly Before We Were Yours before the day is over.

I hope you have all had a wonderful Wednesday!

Quote for the day from The Most Wonderful Books:

From Doris Grumbach: "Public school was my teacher, but the public library was my supplier of mind-expanding and exhilarating drugs of the imagination and intellect. In my early years I believed that by the end of my life I would be able to read everything printed, and that it was all there, on the shelves of the St. Agnes branch of the library. As I approach 80 I have been sadly disabused of these convictions, but not of the lifelong pleasure that what I have read has afforded me."

>122 alcottacre: Lovely!

Karen O

>118 alcottacre: I actually got a decent sleep yesterday 6hrs36min but according to my smart watch from 22:20 to 04:56.

>123 klobrien2: I am glad you liked it, Karen!

>124 PaulCranswick: Hooray for decent sleep, Paul!

Sorry to see you are having lack of sleep issues once again, Stasia. Doesn't sound like those meds are working. Maybe they are having the opposite affect.

>126 Familyhistorian: It would not surprise me at all if they are having the opposite effect. I am cantankerous that way. . .

I think we all use books for escapism, in part. When my dad was battling cancer, he said with a book , you can be anywhere. It's true!

>128 vancouverdeb: That is very true. Right now I pretty much want to be anywhere except the U.S. *sigh*

Finished this evening:

7 - Plan for the Worst by Jodi Taylor - Audiobook; Well, I have to say that this was a roller coaster ride of a book! I am not even sure where to begin without spoilers. There are storylines that end in this one. There is a chicken firing gun. At least that is not spoilery. All I can say is, that you have read the series, do not stop before you get to this one!; Highly Recommended (4.5 stars) Mine

Quote for the day from The Most Wonderful Books:

From Ellen Howard: "The joy of reading, I believe, is a gift. It has to do with who we are and to what we aspire. It has to do with our individual weaknesses and strengths. . . I do not believe that everyone can, or even should, love to read. But everyone, I believe, needs, at least, to know how to read."

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/377584

>132 SilverWolf28: Thanks for the invite, Silver!

>122 alcottacre: Thanks for posting that wonderful quote!

>134 Whisper1: You are very welcome, lovey!

Finished tonight:

8 - The Most Wonderful Books edited by Michael Dorris and Emilie Buchwald - Nonfiction; This is a re-read for me although it has been at least 10 years since I originally read the book. The subtitle really says it all: "Writers on Discovering the Pleasures of Reading." Close to 60 different writers contributed essays to this anthology detailing how they "first encountered the magic of the printed word." A lot of them were introduced to reading by their parents - most often their mothers - but there were a few who did not go that route. I think the most surprising essays were the ones where the writer was brought up in a home where books did not exist. I loved reading these essays then and I loved it again now; Highly Recommended (4.5 stars) Mine

Off to bed now and hoping I will actually sleep! Our monthly gaming marathon is tomorrow. . .

I hope you have refreshing sleep, Stasia.

>137 alcottacre: I hope you slept well and that the gaming marathon is fabulous!

>138 vancouverdeb: >139 Dejah_Thoris: I slept a little over 3 hours. The gaming marathon is going well - we are taking a lunch break :)

Finished this evening:

9 - Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor - I have read several of Okorafor's books (the entire Akata Witch series, Binti, and a nonfiction book she wrote, as well) and I think that this may be her best yet. It is a story within a story. We meet Zelu who is fired from a job that she really did not like to begin with, as an adjunct professor. She receives a rejection letter about a book she had submitted for publication, so she is pretty low. She begins writing a book she calls Rusted Robots and this book is intertwined with Zelu's story throughout Death of the Author. I will say that there were times that I did not care overmuch for Zelu, but she is a character I will not soon forget. She has a family that loves her and fears for her - she was paralyzed at age 12 - and now that she has become a famous author for her book, she is taking chances that she might otherwise not have done. There are a lot of things explored in Okorafor's book so there is depth underlying the two tales being told; Recommended (4.25 stars) Hoopla - Kindle

Happy Friday, Stasia. I hope all is well there. I am inching closer to the halfway point in Our Mutual Friend. I am actually really enjoying listening to the audio while reading the book. It really enhances the experience. You started it today, right?

>141 alcottacre: I have this out from Libby now and am planning on making it a shared read, so I'm very glad to see your high praise for it.

Weekend-ahead's orisons, Stasia! *smooch*

>142 msf59: Yes, I started it today, Mark, and got through the first 5 chapters. I am very much enjoying the audiobook and will likely switch in and out as I usually do if I also have the hard copy. Glad to hear you are enjoying it too!

>143 bell7: I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, Mary!

>144 richardderus: Thanks, RD! Same to you!

I currently have my nose in Snake-Eater and for the first time ever, I think, I found CFS mentioned in a book:

"She was always a very vital woman, always hiking and traveling into the desert. But she slowed down, and at first it just seemed like she was feeling her age, and then it was obviously something more. The doctor said chronic fatigue syndrome, but he admitted that was just a label for 'you're tired but we don't know why.' "

That sums up CFS pretty well. . .

Finished tonight:

10 - Snake-Eater by T. Kingfisher - This book was recommended by Roni and I have to say, I loved it. The main character, Selena, was very relatable to me, what with her practicing 'scripts,' something I do all the time, and being an emotionally battered woman between her mother and her lover. Yeah, I could relate (although in my case, it was my father). After her mother's funeral, Selena decides to go visit an aunt but when she arrives, she discovers the aunt had passed away the previous year. With a whole $27 to her name, Selena has little choice but to stay in Quartz Creek until she can get a job to earn some more money. There is a whole cast of memorable characters in Quartz Creek and they do all that they can to help Selena out, especially when it appears that the Snake-Eater is taking an undue interest in her; Recommended (4.25 stars) Library Book

You have had some good reads, Stasia. May it continue.

Another quote for the day (probably the last for now) from The Most Wonderful Books:

From Cornelia Nixon: "I think we read because we can, and because it's beautiful to leap through the double remove of words and print into another world. . .Anything well said is exhilarating, no matter what awful thing it is about. We read because we can see so much more behind our eyes."

>148 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deborah. Yeah my reading year is getting off to a good start!

>141 alcottacre: I look forward to this one, Stasia. I skimmed over your comments and will return to them when I have read this. What a great start to the year for you.

>151 BLBera: I hope you enjoy it if and when you get to it, Beth!

>147 alcottacre: I have that one in my Kindle queue and I'm glad to see you liked it. It's an interesting cover!

>153 mstrust: I think you will like it, Jennifer, but it is horror-lite, which is about the only way I can tolerate horror at all :)

Horror lite is okay, she's a writer I keep an eye on.

I finally made it over here, Stasia. Sorry to hear about your sleep woes and wishing you some good quality rest soon.

>155 mstrust: Ah, OK. I hope you enjoy the book when you get to it!

>156 MickyFine: Sleep woes are nothing new to me but they have just gotten to the ridiculous point recently. Thanks for dropping by, Micky!

Just doing a running check-through, Stasia. I need to get back to Kingfisher. *sigh*

I wish you better sleep tonight and you and Kerry a relaxing day tomorrow.

Happy Sunday, Stasia. I know this is your tech-free day but I wanted to pop in. I am at the halfway point in the Dickens and will take a short break and read When the Cranes Fly South. That should take a few days and then I will be back on OMF.

Enjoy your game day.

Hi, Stasia! Is it too late to wish you a Happy New Year? I know it's too late to say happy new thread. Anyway, Happy New Year!

Not being able to sleep is the worst! I hope you can find a remedy soon for your insomnia and start getting some decent sleep.

I see we have quite a few favorite books in common. Doc is one of my all-time top 25 books, as is Tomb of Dragons. The House of Spirits is also on that list, and I look forward to your thoughts when you've gotten to it.

Hope you're enjoying your tech-free Sunday!

>141 alcottacre: I loved Death of the Author also. I've only read Okorafor's Binti books and Who Fears death and liked them well, but agree Death of the Author is the best of some very good books.

Hope you had a great weekend, Stasia.

Hi Stasia, I'll never "keep up," but wanted to stop by and say hello and let you know that I'm back for another year. This month marks 15 years in the 75ers group!

I'm a lifelong insomniac although the pattern has changed in my older age and with retirement. I'm still trying to get myself to Get. Out. Of. Bed. and either read or paint instead of lying awake in bed.

Wishing you a relatively restful and pain free new year.

>158 LizzieD: Thanks, Peggy. It has been a very relaxing day here!

>159 msf59: Thanks, Mark! I appreciate the update.

>160 Storeetllr: It is never too late to wish a Happy New Year, Mary! I finished The House of the Spirits a few minutes ago so my thoughts on the book are forthcoming.

>161 swynn: I am glad to see another Nnedi Okorafor fan! Thanks for stopping by, Steve!

>162 PaulCranswick: It has been a very pleasant weekend. Thanks, Paul!

>163 EBT1002: Hey, Ellen! Hard to believe how time flies, isn't it? Thank you so much!

Finished tonight:

11 - The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende - This is my second read of the book, which I first read about 1.5 years ago, and I have upped my rating. This is the story of a Chilean family, the Truebas. When his first love, Rosa, dies Estaban Trueba goes to his family's abandoned land and begins to bring it back to life. Estaban is not a very nice man - he has a vile temper and routinely rapes the teenage girls on his estate - but he decides he wants to marry Rosa's younger sister, Clara, who is a mystic (?) of some kind. Magical realism is very apparent in this book and I did not mind it at all here as it is so intertwined with the story of the Trueba family. There is a lot going on through the generations of the family. All I can say is read the book. It works well for me and maybe for you too!; Highly Recommended (4.5 stars) Library Book

I spent my day with this one and I do not regret it at all!

I am up early this morning since I got no sleep again last night and I have a ton of stuff to do today before I am out of town for the rest of the week. I have library books I have to return before we leave tomorrow, but I have managed to read 2 of the 3 at this point.

Kerry and I are going to get a couple of games in today. I know for sure we are playing The White Castle, but beyond that, I am not sure.

I am still listening to Our Mutual Friend and enjoying it quite a bit. I am starting Coming Up Short: A Memoir of My America today and hope to finish it tonight so it can go back to the library. I am continuing The Information: A History, A Theory, A Flood which I am finding very interesting.

I hope everyone has a marvelous Monday!

Morning, Stasia. Sorry about the lack of sleep. Any chance for a nap today? I think I read The House of the Spirits back in the 80s. I do not remember much about it. I plan on spending much more time with When the Cranes Fly South today. I didn't get as much read yesterday, as I would have liked.

I have been thinking about a reread of The House of Spirits as well, Stasia. It has been a long time and it is one of my favorites by Allende. I think I might appreciate it even more than when I first read it.

>92 alcottacre: My daughter finds the CBD one works really well for a long night's sleep.

Brand name: Minny Grown.

>167 msf59: I took a 90 minute nap and that should hold me until I go to bed tonight. I never get as much read as I would like to :)

>168 BLBera: I hope you get to it soon, Beth, and that you do appreciate more on the re-read. I did!

>169 m.belljackson: Thank you for the recommendation, Marianne! I will look for that one.

>165 alcottacre: Your comments intrigue me, Stasia. I read House of the Spirits, probably 30+ years ago. I liked but didn't love it at the time but would be interested to see how it lands on me now. My reading tastes have definitely evolved!

Happy Tuesday, Stasia. Safe travels today. Check in when you can.

Safe travels, Stasia. We will be missing you, so check in when you can. Sorry that your sleep cycle is so messed up.

What Kristel said, Juana

Have a great time away, Stasia.

Hi Stasia! For once I am not *too* far behind, and yet I still took some BBs.

>130 alcottacre: Am I the only one who has never heard of The Chronicles of St. Mary's? you got me with this title, though I assume I'd need to start at the beginning.

>136 alcottacre: The Most Wonderful Books sounds right up my alley - thank you.

>147 alcottacre: Marina has been on a T. Kingfisher kick lately. I've read a few of hers but want to get into what you and Marina are loving.

>165 alcottacre: I remember loving The House of the Spirits maybe 25+ years ago. I wonder if I still have a copy somewhere.

Safe travels!

Enjoy your trip, Stasia.

Thank you all for keeping my thread warm while I was at my mother's. Her having no Internet is something of a pain, but it also gives me a break from technology and I do not think that is a bad thing!

I finished the following while I was gone. I am not going to do full reviews of these:

12 - Coming Up Short: A Memoir of America by Robert Reich - Nonfiction; Highly Recommended (4.5 stars) Library Book

13 - Night Train to Paris by Pascal Mercier - A re-read for me (my initial read was 15 years ago almost to the day) and my opinion on the book dropped a hair; Recommended (3.75 stars) Mine

14 - Winter Counts by David Heska Wanbli Weiden - A pretty good debut novel; Recommended (4 stars) Library Book

>178 alcottacre: I'm really glad you liked Winter Counts, Stasia. It will, I hope, just be the first of a series.

Welcome back to the 21st century, dearie!

>178 alcottacre: Glad you got to read Coming Up Short. From the rating and recommendation you gave it, I guess you liked it.

>179 richardderus: I hope it is a part of a series too, Richard! Thanks! It is good to be back home!

>180 SqueakyChu: I very much enjoyed it. I was not sure that anyone could have more contempt for Trump than I do, but Reich sure does come close, lol. Thanks for dropping by Madeline.

>181 alcottacre: Nice to see you safely home, Stasia. xx

>182 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul. Now I just need to catch up on my life, lol.

Welcome back, Stasia! Read on my friend, read on!

Finished this afternoon:

15 - The Information: A History, A Theory, A Flood by James Gleick - Nonfiction; I have no idea how this book came across my radar although it won numerous awards and was on several 'best of' lists the year it was published. Going into the book, I never considered that "information" had a history, let alone that there were theories about it. I found the book very interesting, starting all the way back at alphabets and talking drums, to the information flood that we have today. Gleick does a good job at making the science and math in the book both accessible and readable; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

>184 LizzieD: I am trying, Peggy!!

Welcome home, Stasia. I hope you had a nice visit with your Mom. I liked Winter Counts a bit more than you but I am glad you enjoyed it. Hopefully he releases his follow-up this year. I am on the last chapter in Our Mutual Friend. It is very long but Dickens is such a master storyteller, that you keep turning the pages. I hope it continues to work for you.

>187 msf59: Thanks, Mark, I had a great visit with Mother. I am hopeful that the follow up book is forthcoming soon too. I look forward to giving it a go, if I can get my hands on a copy. I still have a little over 200 pages to go. I average about 50 pages a day so I should be finished by the end of the week. It has been such a long time since I last read this one -almost 50 years ago at this point - and I have forgotten practically everything, lol. It is working for me and I am glad to hear that it worked for you as well.

Welcome back, Stasia! Are we still on target for starting Love-in-a-Mist on Wednesday? I'm looking forward to the reread!

>188 alcottacre: I am glad you had a great visit with your mother, Stasia!

Welcome back @alcottacre. Glad you had a good visit with your mother. Today is Tuesday, enjoy your meet up day!

>189 bell7: Thanks, Mary. Yes, I plan on starting Love in a Mist tomorrow. I am looking forward to it too especially as *Bubble and Squeak* is finally on the horizon - even if that horizon is in March.

>190 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deborah!

>191 Kristelh: Meet up time is about an hour from now and I am looking forward to it since we did not have a meet up last week.

Stopping in to say hello, Stasia! I'm glad you enjoyed Snake-Eater; that one is on my list to read soon.

>193 curioussquared: I hope you enjoy Snake-Eater as much as I did, Natalie!

Finished this afternoon:

16 - Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens - Audiobook; Thanks to Mark setting up a group read of this one, I got to revisit the book for the first time in almost 50 years (I spent one summer when I was a teenager reading all of Dickens) and I am very glad to have done so. This book ranks second only to Bleak House in my list of Dickens favorites. Typical of other Dickens' books, there are quite a few storylines going on - he has distinct villains, some of which are in respectable professions - I am looking at you Bradley Headstone, as well as characters almost too good to be true. Some of Dickens' descriptions of his characters are quite comical as in the case of Mr. Podsnap. Does Dickens go on too long. Yes, in all probability. Is the book worth the effort? Undoubtedly!; Highly Recommended (4.5 stars) Mine

From the Appendix by G. K. Chesterton in my hard copy of the book: "Dickens was really a prophet."

Finished tonight:

17 - After You'd Gone by Maggie O'Farrell - This is the second debut novel that I have finished in the past few days - the other one was Winter Counts - and both of them have turned out to be good reads. I was going back in time with O'Farrell for this one as I have read a couple of her later works. In this book, we meet Alice Raikes, whose life turns out to be something of a soap opera. The book is told primarily through Alice's eyes, but we also get her grandmother Elspeth's take and her mother Ann's point-of-view. Alice takes a trip from her home in London to visit her sisters in Edinburgh. While there, she sees something that disturbs her so much that she almost immediately heads home, baffling the sisters that she went to visit. When she arrives back in England, she steps out into traffic and is badly injured. Suicide or accident?; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

>195 alcottacre: Good review, Stasia. It is one of several Dickens' books that I have not yet read and high on my list of next one up.

>197 PaulCranswick: I hope you enjoy it when you get to Our Mutual Friend, Paul!

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/378083

Wishing you a great weekend, Juana

>199 SilverWolf28: Thank you, Silver. I am in!

>200 PaulCranswick: It is shaping up to be a very cold one, Juan! Hopefully that means I can get a lot of reading done since I will be going absolutely nowhere.

Finished tonight:

18 - The Tie That Binds by Kent Haruf - This makes the third debut novel that I have read this month - weird how that happened as it was certainly not planned - and all of the books have been good. I think that this may be the weakest of the three and that is mainly because the book is fairly short and some of it seems to be padded in order to lengthen it. This is the story of Edith Goodnough who we initially meet as an 80-year-old woman charged with murder. The rest of the book shows how and why Edith got to this point in her life. It is a hard luck story if ever there was one and cements the reason why Edith did, in fact, commit murder. As usual with Haruf's books, the fictional Holt, Colorado, becomes a character in the book although we do not see much of it because we spend so much time out in the farmlands; Recommended (3.75 stars) Mine

Hoping you're not a Stasiacicle now...it's looking very ugly.

I have nowhere I need to be, so I'm not stressed...there's coffee and electricity and Ensures, so a couple days of enforced in-gestaying is fine. May it be easy on you, too. *smooch*

Happy Friday, Stasia. I liked your review of OMF. Glad you felt so highly of it. I can NOT believe I still have NOT read The Tie That Binds. I think that is the only one I have not read. Need to change that. I did do a reread of Plainsong and Eventide. I think this is the year for a reread of Benediction. You in?

Hi Stasia!

>88 alcottacre: Up the Down Staircase is one of my all-time favorite books. I’ve read it several times and watched the movie once. I was happily surprised to discover that it’s included in my Audible membership, so just bought it for $.00.

I managed to dodge all the BBs except for Up the Down Staircase. Yay me. *smile*

Looks like your weather’s going to be as nasty ours, although yours starts this afternoon/tonight and ours starts tomorrow afternoon/night. Stay safe and warm.

>202 alcottacre:, >204 msf59: I really liked The Tie that Binds too. I had already read and loved the Plainsong trilogy and wanted more. I wish we could visit Holt again.

After You'd Gone is an O'Farrell I haven't read. I will get to it eventually.

>203 richardderus: Thanks, Richard. It is looking pretty bad if the forecast holds true. We will see.

>204 msf59: Mark, I am reading or rereading all of Kent Haruf this year. This was my first read of The Tie That Binds. Depending on when you are doing the reread of Benediction, I will be in. I am trying to read the Holt Cycle in order, but it is not until number 5.

>205 karenmarie: Since I also have an Audible membership, I will have to get it too!

You stay safe and warm as well!

>206 lauralkeet: I have read 2 of the 3 Plainsong books so I am looking forward to re-reading them and reading the one that I have not read.

>207 BLBera: I will be curious to see what you think of it when you have a chance to read After You'd Gone, Beth.

We are in complete agreement, Stasia! Bleak House is the best and my favorite of all Dickens! Our Mutual Friend comes next. Henry James, by the way, hated it. I found his full review HERE.

I've read only 2 O'Farrells. I'm not really hoarding them although I like her a lot; I just can't get to things as quickly as you do.

I wish you may stay warm and keep your power through this monster storm!

ETA: I found an Ogden Nashery that was written for you and posted it on my thread yesterday. Check it out!

>209 LizzieD: I hope that you stay warm and keep your power through this monster storm too, Peggy! It looks like it is going to be bad pretty much everywhere.

Over to check out Ogden Nashery. I do love Ogden Nash, lol.

>196 alcottacre: I’ve tried starting After You’d Gone a couple times and always put it down again, I have no idea why - I’ve read and loved several of O’Farrell’s early books. I’m due to try again, I think!

I hope you’re staying safe and warm this weekend, Stasia!

>211 Copperskye: I hope you make it through After You'd Gone this time, Joanne!

Thanks. I hope the same for you.

Stasia, I hope you are doing well, staying warm in the storm, and that you have not/will not lose power. It's just starting for us now. I wish it would be snow instead of ice, but we get what we get.

>213 atozgrl: Yeah, I wish it was snow too. We were supposed to be getting snow this afternoon, but they have now changed it to freezing rain and sleet. *sigh*

>178 alcottacre: Welcome back!

>213 atozgrl: Irene, we are slated for the same. I've had many spinal surgeries and am no able to shovel snow. But, I have wonderful neighbors who help me. And, I don't even ask for their help. I am so blessed to live in a neighborhood with kind people.

Stopping by to say hi, Stasia . Tomorrow is your traditional day off LT , I think.

Thinking about you Stasia and hope you haven't lost power in this storm.

>215 figsfromthistle: Thank you, Anita!

>216 Whisper1: Your neighbors take good care of you, lovey, and I am ever so glad!

>217 vancouverdeb: It is, Deborah, my traditional day off technology. I am hoping for lots of reading and game playing. Thanks for stopping by!

>218 karenmarie: We have been extremely lucky, Karen. We have not lost power or any of the other utilities. I hope the same for you!

It is still cold here (for Texas) with an expected high of 20F. However, the wind is blowing at speeds up to 15mph out of the north, so the wind chill is currently -3.

I am off to read and game and otherwise enjoy my day off technology. Stay safe, people, and stay warm!!

I'm really happy to see that you were still able to post a bit more than an hour ago. May you keep the power on, stay in the house, and be safe and warm!!!!

Finished this afternoon:

19 - Love-in-a-Mist by Victoria Goddard - Continuing with my re-read of the Greenwing & Dart series (along with Mary and Nina). This is Goddard's take on the 'murder in a locked room' trope. Jemis, newly non-dead, and his friends Hal and Mr. Dart, have arrived at a stately manor house and are doing stately manor house things such as being introduced to people they have never met before, one of whom ends up dead. I gave this book 4.25 stars the first time I read it and I have revised my rating upwards this time around. I am firmly convinced that Goddard could pretty much write in any genre she would like. If this is not my favorite book in the series, it sure is darn close; Highly Recommended (4.5 stars) Mine

"This house, this family. . .were wealthy and eccentric and not entirely morally sane."

>222 alcottacre: "Morally sane"...what an interesting concept.

Sunday orisons, my dear.

>223 richardderus: Thank you, Richard. Same to you!

Finished this evening:

20 - Birth, Sex and Abuse: Women’s Voices Under Nazi Rule by Beverley Chalmers - Nonfiction; This book came onto my radar as one of the winners of the National Jewish Book awards back in 2015. This is a hard read emotionally. Just when you think that man's inhumanity to man cannot be any worse, you read a book like this that details atrocities inflicted specifically on women - and not just Jewish women. Granted, the German women were not subject to repeated rape, torture, and death like the Jewish women were, but they had to live under Lebensborn, whose goal was to 'breed the SS into a biological elite.' One (idiot) doctor declared that German women should aspire to have 15 children over a 30-year period. There are a lot of testimonies from (mainly) Jewish women in the book but for every attributed testimony, you know that there are untold stories because the women were either too ashamed to talk about it or the said women were murdered during the Holocaust. A hard read indeed, but a worthwhile one; Highly Recommended (5 stars) Mine

>165 alcottacre: I'm currently reading The house of Spirits for the first time and not totally feeling the love. I'll keep going but it's a slow read for me. How did you get on with the long paragraphs, I'm finding that a quite annoying feature.

>226 avatiakh: I did not really have a problem with the long paragraphs, Kerry. I am sorry that the book is not working for you. Put it aside! If you decide to come back to it, fine. Life is too short for reading books you do not enjoy. . .

>226 avatiakh: & >227 alcottacre: That really is a marmite sort of book isn't it? There are a lot of reviews on the workpage by people I implicitly trust who have such divergent views on this one.

Hi Stasia- I really enjoyed reading your summary in >1 alcottacre:. I feel like I have known you so long, as you were one of the first on LT that I chatted with :)

>202 alcottacre: I haven't heard of The Tie That Binds by Kent Haruf....love some of his others though. Boy, have I got some reading to do. *sigh*

>225 alcottacre: I really don't think I could bear to read that one.

>227 alcottacre: I'll keep reading, it'll be a slow read though.

Hope you are keeping warm and safe, Stasia!

Happy Monday, Stasia. I hope you had a fine tech-free Sunday. Did the storm hit near your area? I saw your response up there on Benediction. I can't wait until later in the year to read it. Just let me know when you get close. Will you be reading one a month?

>229 LovingLit: We have known each other a good long time now, haven't we, Megan? It still amazes me how long this group has been a part of my life!

The Tie That Binds is not Haruf's best, but I still feel like it is worth the read!

It is definitely a tough read so I understand giving it a pass.

>230 avatiakh: OK, but bail on it if you just are not enjoying it.

>231 jessibud2: We are trying, Shelley! I hope the same for you too.

>232 msf59: Oh, yeah. The storm got us. We had snow and ice and sleet and freezing rain and all kinds of winter goodness :)

As far as my Kent Haruf reads go, I was thinking of doing one every other month, so Benediction is a far way from me at this point. Sorry, Mark.

Weird day here all around. Kerry has been trying to fix the washing machine, but is struggling with getting one of the pieces out so that chore has been set aside for today so that I can get the sheets washed! Lol

Catey has today off because she cannot get to her shop (which they closed due to the weather anyway) so she and I are going to play Ark Nova in about 40 minutes. Kerry and I will get some gaming in today, I think, just not sure when.

I am currently listening to To Say Nothing of the Dog - I do love Connie Willis - and this is making me want to read the entire Oxford Time Travel books again, lol, or at the very least reread Jerome K. Jerome's classic Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog), which I have already read at least twice. . .

I am reading (and hoping to finish) The Wizards of Once today. I finished up two last night so am adding to my reading stack with: The City & the City, The Magdalen Martyrs, One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This, When the World Was Black. Should keep me busy for a minute or two. . .

I hope everyone has a marvelous Monday!

Anyone besides me having problems posting on LT tonight? I have attempted to reply to posts on people's threads, but am unable to do so. It is extremely frustrating!

Finished tonight:

21 - The Wizards of Once by Cressida Cowell - Juvenile; After reading what seems like a lot of heavy books this month (especially that last one!) I needed something light and this book was just the ticket. Cowell is probably best known for her How To Train Your Dragon series and this book was just as fun as those are. We have Xar, a Wizard who has not come into his magic even though he is past the age for it, and Wish, a Warrior who is not supposed to have magic and yet does. There are sprites, wolves, a bear, snowcats, an Enchanted Spoon (who could not love an Enchanted Spoon?), birds, giants, and for good measure, a Bodkin; Recommended (3.75 stars) Mine

I hope your washing machine is fixed soon, Stasia! Such a bother and in the midst of a snowstorm.

>255 karenmarie: I'm finding I have to hit "refresh" a bunch of times to get pages to download properly. Things are just slower, I think. Lots of tugs on the powergrids.

>237 vancouverdeb: Yeah, Kerry was not able to fix it yesterday because one of the parts that needs to come off will not do so. He is heading to the hardware store as soon as he can get out of our driveway, which will likely be tomorrow.

>238 kac522: I am glad it is not just me, Kathy. However, I have no patience at all and after attempting to post 3 separate times, I finally gave up, lol.

Today is my meet up day with Beth and Catey, so online gaming is on the agenda. Other than that, not a lot going on here. The snow is starting to melt and should be gone, with a few exceptions, by late today I should think - it is going to be 40F.

Kerry and I will be playing Istanbul this afternoon. I think that is all the gaming I will be doing today.

However, I am hoping to get a lot of reading in over the next few days as the end of the month approaches. I am still listening to To Say Nothing of the Dog. I started Anderby Wold last night and will be beginning The City & The City tonight. I may also start The Magdalin Martyrs as well. We will see how things shake out.

I hope everyone has a terrific Tuesday!

Finished this evening:

22 - Anderby Wold by Winifred Holtby - I owe the read of this one to 2 people: Peggy, who first turned me on to Holtby (unknowingly) and Paul, who was my Secret Santa and bought the book for me for Christmas. This is yet again another debut novel making it my fourth in January - this was completely unintentional but somehow happened. This novel is set in Anderby Wold, hence the title, and tells the story of how the old ways and new ways became at odds with each other. We meet Mary and John Robson, who own a farm on which the mortgage is now fully paid. They are benevolent employers to many of the farm workers in the area. However, a fly in the ointment shows up in the form of David Rossitur who tells the local laborers of a different way of life, one that embraces socialism. Soon there is a division in the district and nothing is ever going to be the same again. I think that Holtby gets a bit heavy handed at points in the book and that is my biggest knock against it; Recommended (3.75 stars) Mine

>241 alcottacre: I've been slowly making my way through all of Winifred Holtby's novels published by Virago. So far, I think I liked The Crowded Street the best, and I liked Anderby Wold a little better than you did. I still have Mandoa, Mandoa! and South Riding yet to read--I did see the BBC series of South Riding some years ago and enjoyed it, so I hoping the novel will be as good.

Virago also published a collection of her short stories, but I haven't been able to track down a copy. I also want to find Testament of Friendship : the Story of Winifred Holtby by Vera Brittain at some point.

>241 alcottacre:, >242 kac522: South Riding is excellent. I read that first and then a bunch of Holtby's other novels. But SR remains my favorite.

>242 kac522: I fully intend to read more of Holtby's books too as I can get my hands on them.

I have read a couple of Vera Brittain's books, but not that one. Thanks for the mention, Kathy. I will look for it too.

>243 lauralkeet: I am going to have to South Riding soon. Thanks for the input, Laura.

Another normal day around these parts. I am trying to concentrate on the books I have yet to finish by the end of the month and am planning out next month's reads already.

I am hoping to finish One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This today. I am not sure what I make of it yet. CitizenJoyce had some cogent arguments against this diatribe (not sure what else to call it) but on the other hand, I find some his arguments compelling.

I am also continuing with listening to To Say Nothing of the Dog, continuing reading The City & the City, and potentially starting something else (The Magdalen Martyrs?) in my race to the end of January, lol.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Wednesday!

>245 alcottacre: I hope you'll get some thoughts about el-Akkad's book down after you finish it. Maybe clarity is what I need.

Wednesday *smooch*

>246 richardderus: I hope I get some thoughts down too, Richard. I am about halfway through the book and conflicted.

((Hugs)) and **smooches** for today, RD!

>244 alcottacre: Yep, loved Testament of Youth--time for a re-read.

>241 alcottacre: Reading lots of debut novels in January seems appropriate, even if it was unintentional!

>248 kac522: I have read Testament of Youth twice but I think it is time for a re-read of that one myself. I just have to find my copy - and enough time to read it!

>249 foggidawn: It is very odd the way it worked out, Misti. I doubt I could read 4 debut novels again in a month even if I tried, lol.

Finished this afternoon:

23 - One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad - Nonfiction; This is a weird read for me. I have spent time processing how I feel about the book and am finding it nearly impossible to differentiate about how I feel about the book in general and the message that El Akkad is trying to get across. His emotions definitely come through but then there are places that it is impossible to tell what his tone is supposed to be. For example: “I wonder what it must feel like. It must take great courage to dissociate so fully, and under such difficult circumstances.” Is this supposed to be taken at face value or is it supposed to be ironic? I cannot tell.

CitizenJoyce's take on the book: "Akkad verifies that everyone knew the Palestinians would fare worse under trump than Harris, but he thought it moral to protest the Democrats by not voting. He says in every election, people say that one is the most important to save the world, and that the immoral Democrats tried to convince us that if they lost, there would be breadlines and a fascist overthrow of the government. Hmm. He goes on and on about the morality of walking away from an election rather than choosing the lesser of two evils, and then he discusses becoming a naturalized US citizen, swearing allegiance to a nation to which he feels no allegiance, arguing that it's the best of two bad choices - to live under the protection of the oppressor rather than with the fear of the oppressed. I will never understand these arguments.(emphasis mine)"

I understand what Joyce is saying and I agree with her.

On the other hand, we have DejahThoris' thoughts: "I agree with you 100% about the election issue - there is absolutely no way the world is better off with the results of the last election, and not voting accomplishes nothing positive, in my opinion. . .

I found myself drawn in by his anger, with which he is overflowing. He is ruthless in his condemnation of those who do not share his viewpoint. Someone tried to engage him in conversation about Gaza by opening with some variation of 'but it's so complicated,' and he cannot stomach this conversation even one more time because to him, it's not complicated, it's simply wrong. El Akkad's vision is strictly black and white. The trouble is, I can't help but find the situation complicated; I suppose I'm more of a pragmatist than an idealist.

Nevertheless, I thought the book was excellent. I don't always have to agree or even like an author's words to be moved by them."

And I agree with her last point as well.

Then there is this review that I found on Goodreads: "But my bigger issue is more fundamental. El Akkad’s central indictment of the West is that its citizens are indifferent to suffering beyond their borders. This is, of course, true—but it’s hardly a novel or insightful critique. The same could likely be said of all empires and nations throughout history, which have been built on the backs of exploitation and violence. The real question, though, is one El Akkad never rigorously addresses: Is it worse to espouse human rights and fail, or to never claim those values at all while operating as a naked empire?

And because El Akkad never takes that next step, he fails to offer a positive vision for an alternative world order. Instead, we’re left with a critique that’s more about what’s wrong than any meaningful proposal for how things could be different."

And I think that is the one that comes closest to how I feel about the book.

Sorry for the weirdness of this review, but I have really wrestled with my feelings on the book - and I think that any book that makes me ponder it this much is worth the read; Recommended (3.75 stars) Library Book

>251 alcottacre: It's a complicated issue and a book that flattens it into a false simplicity. Heartfelt and tendentious isn't correct.

>252 richardderus: It is a complicated - and seemingly never ending - issue, Richard. I am not sorry I read it, I just wish I had liked it more. That last quote about 'not offering a positive vision for an alternative world order' really haunts me because I want there to be an alternative world order so badly these days. "Never Again" just seems like it is never going to happen as long as there are people on this earth.

I was so depressed after finishing the El Akkad book that I did not do any more reading the rest of the day other than completing my audiobook. . .

Excellent review of One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This. A perfect break-down. Maybe not being deeply familiar with this chaotic region and possibly missing some of the issues you brought up slipped by me while listening to the audio. I thought it was a fantastic book but I realize there are many conflicting layers to this tragic region.

Sweet Thursday, Stasia.

Hi Stasia! Happy Thursday to you. I hope you have a wonderful day.

>222 alcottacre: and >223 richardderus: “morally sane”. I need to think about that a bit.

>234 alcottacre: I’m sorry about the washing machine woes. I hope it’s fixed now. Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog is on Kindle Unlimited, so I’ve downloaded it. Will I read it? Who knows.

We’ve still got ice on the north side of the house/concrete and it’s 18.3F. I’ll be edging out in an hour and see if I can safely make it 2 miles to Hwy 64. Book sort and etc. today.

>253 alcottacre: ...but it isn't his job to propose alternatives, and "downgrading" him for not doing so is intellectually unfair. He maybe *could* have proposed alternatives had he felt he had some; permaybehaps his editor (wisely, in my opinion) told him to take them out. Anyone who proposed solutions to a problem this intractable is painting a giant target on themselves for any- and everyone who has an axe to grind to take shots at them. Having an opinion and backing it up is a guaranteed way to bring annoying little twidgees and malevolent muckrakers out of hiding; he decided to stick to the safe bit: Open your eyes and see through this lens I'm holding up.

"Never again" is a goal we've failed at as a species far, far, far more often than we've succeeded.

>254 msf59: I have been reading more about the area in my Jewish Studies reading, Mark, and have been helped by Kerry (aviatkh) with reading suggestions as I struggle to understand the issues. I still need to learn more though.

>255 karenmarie: You may find the humor in Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog) somewhat dated, Karen, but I enjoy it, probably because I am somewhat dated :)

You take care while you are out and about today!

>256 richardderus: You are right, Richard.

I do not think we will ever succeed at "Never Again."

Finished last night:

24 - To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis - Audiobook; This is a re-read of a re-read for me. I very much enjoy Willis' sense of humor and it comes through quite a bit with her Oxford Time Travel series. In this second installment of the series, we meet Ned Henry, who has been shuttling back-and-forth between Victorian England and the 21st century and is desperately in need of a break. So, what do the PTB do? Send him back to Victorian England, of course. In the Victorian England in which Ned is supposed to be getting some rest everything goes awry and has to be fixed before the incongruities in the time line mess up history forever; Highly Recommended (4.5 stars) Mine

Last night was a night when I really needed something light and this was just the ticket!

>257 alcottacre: What would success even look like? For every solution from perspective A there is viewpoint Not-A that criticizes flaws and perspective anti-A that says this is entirely utterly immoral unjust and will destroy All future generations' happiness and even existence.

No one anywhere ever is Right. There is no such thing as Right...which triggers HUGE anxiety in many multitudes of people. Spectra, which make up All of reality, scare the bejabbers out of people who don't know how, or just don't want, to think things through.

>258 alcottacre: God I love Connie Willis. When I’m feeling crappy I pull one of her (comedy) books off the shelf and dig in. To Say Nothing is a great one.

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/378251

>259 richardderus: I think I am one of those who don't know how, Richard. There is never going to be an answer to who is right and who is wrong because most of the time, both sides have at least some merit.

>260 scvlad: Always happy to see another Connie Willis fan! Her Road to Roswell was a hoot, IMHO.

>261 SilverWolf28: Thanks, Silver. I have already been over there to sign up!

Good review of One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This, Stasia. I have been thinking of reading it. It sounds complex.

>263 vancouverdeb: The book itself is not complex, Deborah, but the issue certainly is. I will be curious to see what you make of it, if and when you get to the book.

We are currently waiting for the groceries to arrive and that is the biggest thing happening here today, lol.

Lunch is currently in the oven, Curry Spice Roasted Cauliflower and Chickpeas. Brown rice is in the Instant Pot. My kitchen smells lovely.

Kerry and I will be playing Endeavor: Deep Sea for the second time today. It fits well with my read of Playground.

As mentioned, I am listening to Playground by Richard Powers, which I am very much enjoying. This makes at least 3 books of his that I have read and I have enjoyed them all.

I am hoping to finish The Magdalen Martyrs today. I am hoping to finish my other two TIOLI books for January, The City & the City and Mysteries of the Middle Ages by end of day tomorrow. We will see if I manage to do it.

I hope everyone has a fantastic Friday!

Finished tonight:

25 - The Magdalen Martyrs by Ken Bruen - Mark touted this series to me which is why I had my hands on this book in the first place - thanks, Mark - and Bruen's death last year is what finally got me to read it. The book has 2 timelines, one in the past featuring the Magdalen laundry, and the second being a contemporary timeline featuring Jack Taylor. One of Taylor's old nemeses, Bill Cassell, asks Jack to try and track down a woman from on of the laundries, a woman who "took care" of Cassell's mother while she was in the workhouse. In the meantime, Jack is also asked by her stepson, to look into the possibility that she may have murdered the stepson's father. I am really not sure how Jack had any time to investigate anything given the amount of time Jack spent drinking and doing drugs! There is an interaction between Jack and a passing woman in which she says as he is lighting up to smoke, "Them yokes will kill you" and to which Jack replies, "They'll have to stand in line" and I think that pretty much sums up Jack's life; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

>266 alcottacre: I'm glad it was a success for you, Stasia, you needed a hit!

>267 richardderus: Yes, I did. I still have a couple more books to finish before the month is out and I know that at least one of them is going to be a 4-star read for me.

Thanks, RD!

Looks like you are reading up a storm since you've been back, Stasia. Did the washing machine get fixed?

>266 alcottacre: I am so glad you are continuing with the Jack Taylor books and I also loved the 3rd entry in the series. Thanks for the reminder too- after rereading The Guards after his death I planned to reread The Killing of the Tinkers. Of course, I completely forgot.

I wish you could have tagged along with The Wayfinder. I think this will work fine for a shared read. It looks like all 3 of us have started it.

Happy Saturday, Stasia.

>269 Familyhistorian: No, not yet, Meg. Kerry thought he had the things he needed to get it fixed and it turned out (as so often it does), he needed another thing. Hopefully he will get it done soon as I am tired of listening to it make weird noises, lol.

>270 msf59: This was the first Bruen book that I have read, Mark. I started on book 3 because that was the one that I could get my hands on it. I am happy to remind you to get back to the series though!

I will have to get to The Wayfinder at some point, I am sure, but it just is not going to happen in February. Sorry!

Today is the day I will be reading my eyeballs out in an effort to finish the last 2 books for TIOLI for the month. Seriously though, I have both of them within shouting distance of the end. Books are my priority for the day, but Kerry and I will be getting some gaming in too. . .

I am thoroughly enjoying my read (listen?) of Playground and it warms my heart to hear a couple of the main characters talk about German board games coming into the U.S., something that revolutionized modern board gaming here.

I will be finishing up both The City & the City and Mysteries of the Middle Ages today hopefully and then I will be diving into February's reads with a couple of chunksters coming up first: Red Comet, which is my Caroline memorial read for the month, and The Barn: The Secret History of a Murder in Mississippi, a book brought to my attention by Susanna for my Black Studies reading.

I will be starting a new thread for February at some point today too. . .

I hope everyone has a super Saturday!

Finished this afternoon:

25 - The City & the City by China Mieville - This is my third read of this book and each time I read it, I appreciate it more. Mieville is writing a noir book in this one, but it is a noir built into a world of his own making. If you cannot buy into the world building of the book, then you may as well quit reading because the world is definitely its own thing here and a real character in the book. The book starts out as a 'traditional' murder mystery with a young student murdered and the investigating officer trying to figure out who and why. Then the story takes a turn as you try and figure out how the two cities of the title work together and against each other - and what does the young woman's murder have to do with either of them?; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

>273 alcottacre: That sounds like something I would enjoy. I read Un Lun Dun by Mieville several years ago and liked it quite a lot.

>274 foggidawn: It is very different from Un Lun Dun, Misti, which is more of a young adult book than The City & the City is. I like them both so if and when you get a chance to read this one, I hope you enjoy it as well.

All your finishing at the end of the month tends to make me dizzy. The thing is, dear Stasia, that you don't just read, you also process what you read. It's fun to follow you.
I'm delighted that you still enjoy Holtby. I see that I need to read The Crowded Street. I'm also old enough to enjoy the humor of *Men/Boat/Dog* and the C. Willis Oxford series too. I need to reread them. And I also enjoyed *City/City* tremendously. My memory of finding Mieville with *Perdido St.* is vivid.

Meanwhile, today it snows, stops, snows, stops. Last time I looked out, it was still snowing, but it doesn't seem to be accumulating very quickly. That suits me just fine. Stay warm and sleep a reasonable amount!

ETA: I just read this in your intro... "I tell people I wouldn't have voted for him if he were the only one running." (exactly) The sentence reminds me a bit of A. Lincoln's response to a woman who told him that she wouldn't vote for him if he were running against the Devil. Lincoln said, "Since your friend is not running, maybe you'll consider giving me your vote."

>276 LizzieD: Sorry, Peggy, I do not mean to make you dizzy :) I am glad you find it fun following me!

Anderby Wold is my first Holtby but it will definitely will not be my last. It is too bad she died so young because I believe she would have held a firm place as a wonderful English novelist.

Ah, Perdido Street. I have yet to make it through that one. I do not remember what my problem with the novel is as it has been so long since I last attempted it, but I just remember not liking it at all. I will have to attempt it yet again (this would be my third attempt) now that I have actually found a couple of Mieville books that I actually like.

No precipitation here, just a very cold day (for Texas). The temperature first thing this morning was 13 but with the wind chill, it was -5. We are supposed to be up to 70 by Friday. Crazy weather!

I did not know the Abraham Lincoln story, but I love it!

>273 alcottacre: I loooooved that book! I'm so glad you liked it, too.

*smooch*

Finished tonight:

27 - Mysteries of the Middle Ages by Thomas Cahill - Nonfiction; This is the fifth book in Cahill's Hinges of History series and although not my favorite book in the series (that honor goes to How the Irish Saved Civilization) it is pretty close - although I have yet to have read any of the books in the series past this one. Cahill has a way of writing that does not sound like it is talking down to me as a reader, but talking to me. This book starts with Chaucer and ends with Dante and has a lot of other personages in between, some of whom I had no knowledge of whatsoever. We are lead through Greece, into Rome (I found the chapter on how Romans became Italians very interesting), England, and places beyond. We stumble across kings and queens, popes, artists, scientists, and writers. Obviously in a history written for general readers, Cahill cannot cover everyone who contributed to the Middle Ages, but he does a great job in handling what he did; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

"In its rudimentary essentials, science may be said to have risen in the medieval world in a cloud of Christian imaginings, but borne aloft on an air current of new respect for reason and observation."

>279 alcottacre: Oh, how interesting. I've always been curious about "how Romans became Italians." You and RD are very dangerous this month. I've been trying to avoid adding more books to Mt. TBR.

>280 atozgrl: I've been trying to avoid adding more books to Mt. TBR. I think you are definitely in the wrong place for that! Why do you think I have a BlackHole? Lol

The Akkad review was brilliant, Stasia. I am sure that I agree with Richard on this. It is only a black and white issue if you happen to be one of those colours yourself when in reality most of us operate in shades.

I will probably look for it and buy it at some stage but vehemence does not equal objectivity and to write on such a topic without objectivity is more than a little reckless.

I am living in a country that spout the pro-Hamas talking points ad nauseum and I am particularly saddened that books with a more balanced view or even setting out experiences from the other side like Hostage for instance cannot be found in the bookstores here. Militant Islamism is the biggest threat to our way of life and our freedoms and I say that as the group's (I think) only Muslim.

>282 PaulCranswick: There seem to be no shades of grey in Akkad's world, Paul. I grew up with a man who was like that - my father saw no grey at all in the world - and I just cannot agree with that stance.

I finished Mysteries of the Middle Ages last night and one of the things that he said in the book that caught my attention was how that Islam and Christianity have basically been at war for 14 centuries - and that is not even the militant versions of both religions. You would think that in 14 centuries that someone would have been able to make peace between the two. *sigh*